Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-05-14
wooDLAwN FARMERS. CLUE.
tReported for the Alexandria GAZETTE


(ieported for the Alexandria GAzErrE.)
The May meeting ofthe Woodlawn Farm
ers Club was held at the home of President
Pearson on the 9TH inst.
James W. Roberts, who was appointed to
inquire into the status of the Alexandria
aud Washington turnpike, reported that il!
appear ed to be controlled by the railroad
| company, and that the authorities of Alex
andria had tried to compel the company to
| improve the road, but had so far failed to
obtain any satisfaction The canal com.
papy is willing that the bed of the canal
shall be made into roadway; the only
difficulty is the wherewi!hal for the con
struction thereof. He was requested to
continue the investigation of the matter.
! The report Of the critical committee was
read, which began with an apology fer tbs
younger members of the club essayipg 10
criticize the farming operations of one har
| ing the experience of our venerable presl-
| dent" The farm consists of about go acres.
| 200 OF which aro arabic. 1t has n warm,
southern exposure and is copiously suppiieG
| with the purest water from numerous
! fine springs Most of the land is nearly
| level ard well adapted to grass, which, i'll
the opinion Of the committee, was the best
crop to be grown and they would recom'
| mend that more attention be given TO per
| mauent pastures, with less ,plowIns
They stlay notieatii- II comfortable and conve
nient COW stable built since The last melting
mere with d capacity for 80 cows. II was
occupied by about 20 cows, which showed
The effects OF good care and were responding
very favorably at the milk pail. The COWS
were being supplied with treakle as an ep
petiZer, n Scotch idea of Mr.. Watts, the fotn
man, which gave good results, as did, also,
the malt sprouts which were supplied 10
them in liberal quantities. a field OF forty
acres of cats was reported, which look Cd
| very we'll The young grass and clover also
were very promising. The farm shows The
evil effects OF the tenant system 10 the filling
ND of ditchas and neglect of hedge rows ana
! from which they congratulated our host
upon having escaped, and they were graft
| Ged to SEQ he was repairing the mischief
! that had been done. They noticed fine
vegetable garden, giving promise OF boun-
| tiful supply for the family. a speciality la
being made of poultry: yearly profit of one
dollar apiece from the hens is reported as
return for the improved hennery. Wire
netting is used for fencing at cost of SO
| for 336 feet il length, feet high. Special
| attention was called to the farm road, which
davis work with the plow and road ma
chine. and it was que!ied whether any bet
ter outlay of labor could be made, as the ad-
vantage of good road about the farm, the
saving in the hauling of crops and manures
and in the wear and tear of vehicles, &c.
was immense.
The question for discussion waa next
taken up, Can we improve our present sys-
TEN of farmiag?" There was disposition
to criticize the wording of the question.
Some thought The meaning was rot clear ;
that we might improve our farming without
making it profitable, but the weight OF tes'
timorfy indicated that the intent was TO
make it more profitable. After much talk
and the indulgence in good bit ofgrowling
about hard times, and of there being no
profit in farming any way, report OF the
"Deer Creek Farmers CLUB" in the Amerl-
can Farmer was read, wherein this same
subject was discussed: and the views OF the
different members, reported at some length
in detail. were commented upon ana ex-
cited considerable interest. While some
had hobbies and specialties to advocate, the
general sentiment was in favor OF diversi-
fed system of farming, with close attention
TO details Where one is near good market,
mill, dairvinC, all things considered, is prob
ehlv the best thing to follow as the main
chance. Next to that would be butter dairy
ing. The poultry business, conducted with
care and Judgment, would scarcely iail
to be remunerative also fruitgrowing
to moderate extent on suitable soil, with
close attention to details, and careful hand
ling of the fruit may be recommended.
. There seems to be a misarprehension on
the part of some farmers as to what consti
.. tutes profit. merchant may appear to be
doing better than farmer in the cash re-
turns from his business, but he Is at the
same time looking toward expeDdlng MS
profts in the arrangement of comfortsble
or luxurious home, and the spending ot a
Dor;ion of his time aDd that of his family at
some summer resort away from the heat
n,d dust of the city The farmer, at The
s.ma time that he is taking in but little
snare cash. NAV be slowly, but surely, i'm
I n-ovinp his farm and surroundings, in which
he takes Just pride and much pleasure,
and is enjoying the fruits of his laoors in
The possession Of many OF the essentials oil
comfortable existence that require OF the
city man large outlay in cash, and not the
least among them is TO be reckOned the gilt
of robust health for himself and family,
which is seldom youchsafed to the deniZens
of the crowded towns.
From the evidence at hand it was indica-
ted that stock raising is reasonably sure OF
satisfactory returns, and especially sheep.
One member reported that from an outlay
of S26S last July he had sold S9O5 worth ol
sheep, lambs and wool and bad hiteen
sheep left.
Charles Gibbs introduced the matter o.
the improvement of the road to Ale1andria
and stated that there were number living